Simple Techniques for Paper Embroidery

Paper embroidery can embellish special letters and other paper projects. Punched paper embroidery is usually done on thicker card stock that can stand up to your stitching.

Some of the things that you will need to do any paper embroidery project include a foam piercing pad (mouse pads are perfect for this), a piercing tool, such as a hat pin or a T pin, removable tape, regular tape and text-weight paper that you can run through a printer.

Preparing the Card StockTo begin your project, choose a pattern and print it out on the text-weight paper. You can find many patterns online, including some good free ones. Cut any excess paper away, so that the paper matches the size of the card stock. Using the removable tape, attach the pattern to the card stock.

Put the text weight paper and the card stock on the cutting mat. Pierce the pattern through to the card stock with the piercing tool. Hold the tool vertically, so that the holes are straight and the pin will pierce through both the text-weight paper and the card stock in a single motion. Once everything's been punched, remove the text-weight paper with the pattern from the card stock.

Filling in the DesignWhen you begin embroidering, pull the thread through the card stock slowly and gently. This will help keep the thread from tangling and the card stock from tearing. Use a thin needle and make sure that it's sharp; dull needles will tear the card stock. You'll find that paper embroidery dulls needles faster than fabric embroidery, so be sure to have extra needles on hand.

Make the first stitch from the bottom. Leave a small tail and tape the thread tail to the back of the card stock with removable tape. Sew the pattern, taping off the tail ends as needed. When the pattern is completed, pull off the removable tape and arrange the tail ends so they are flat and not bulky. You can twist two or three tail ends together if they are close enough. You can then tape the tail ends down with permanent tape, or use a thin coating of rubber cement or craft glue to secure the threads in place.

Keeping track of embroidery floss can be a challenge, especially as your collection of skeins and remnants from old projects grows. Whether you prefer keeping loose skeins or wind your floss on bobbins, there are simple ways to keep it organized.